One-man classic
Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society announces six ticketed performances of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The classic holiday tale has been adapted as a one-man play by Jason Stevens and will be performed in the historic Victorian mansion on Dec. 10, Wednesdays Dec. 14, 21 and 28, and Fridays Dec. 16 and 23. All performances at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30. Tickets $20 adults or $15 students. (Not for ages under 13.) Members of the Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society receive $2 off admission.
Listen to the winter wind
Viva Youth Choirs of Victoria perform their annual December concert entitled Winter Winds with an eclectic program of music for young voices. Accompanists for the concert will be Angela Zhang, Braden Young and Rosemary Laing.
Dec. 10, 3 p.m. Grace Lutheran Church, 1273 Fort St. Tickets $12 (adults), $8 (students,) age 7 and under free. Available at La Tavola Kitchenware (Oak Bay), Long & McQuade, or at the door.
Authors help launch Fall books
Ekstasis Editions will launch its Fall titles with a party at the Well. The evening will include readings by many Ekstasis authors, including Manolis, Stephen Bett, Eric Miller, Elizabeth Rhett Woods, Dvora Levin, Stanley Evans, Richard Olafson, Ellen Arrand and Clayton Jevne. Also featuring music by Carol Sokoloff and Trio Espresso.
Dec. 10, The Well, 821 Fort Street, 6:30 p.m.
School choir presents Christmas concert
The Christmas season isn’t as warm without the charming sound of children singing.
Youth Choir 61, the school district’s honour choir, presents “And the Angels Sang” as their annual Christmas concert.
This year’s presentation, with guests the Avalon Singers, is Sunday, Dec. 11 at St. Aidan’s Church.
The Christmas concert is a major event on the school calendar for the talented group of students, aged 11 to 18, who rehearse once a week at Monterey middle school.
Show time is 2 p.m. at 3703 St. Aidan’s St. (Cedar Hill Cross Road and Richmond Avenue).
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, and are available at the door. Advance tickets are available as of Dec. 1 at Ivy’s Bookshop in Oak Bay.
From madness to miracles
Enjoy the premiere screening of Madness, Masks and Miracles Dec. 11, 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Victoria playwright and co-producer June Swadron hosts this premiere to advocate the power of creativity to transform mental illness into mental health and to dispel stigma. Based on the playwright’s personal experience with bipolar illness. Discussion follows about a united vision for a downtown centre. At the Academy for Creative and Healing Arts Truth Centre, 1201 Fort St. By donation. For information go to http://juneswadron.com/ or call 250-592-5453.
Joyeaux Jubilee
Christmas at Pemberton Chapel, Royal Jubilee Hospital Dec. 11, 2:30 p.m. featuring A Great Noyse, a medieval wind ensemble with organist Geoffrey Thornburn and carols for the audience. Admission by donation. For information call 250-385-4137.
Enjoy holiday musical delights at naval concert
Put a little navy in your Christmas by attending a holiday concert performed by the Royal Canadian Navy’s Naden Band.
It will be the first time the band is led through its annual Christmas show by band director, navy Lt. Matthew Clark, who took on the leadership position in September.
Vocalists Ken Lavigne and Stephanie Greaves will also take the stage during the performance, which features a lineup of original and Christmas works.
The event, which happens Dec. 12, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Royal Theatre, is also a fundraiser in support of less-fortunate children in Greater Victoria. Admission is $7, and spectators are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy for the Salvation Army’s toy drive.
Tickets are available at the McPherson box office. Call 250-386-6121 or visit www.rmts.bc.ca.
Dickensian drama
CBC Radio presents a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Dec. 13, 7 p.m. at Alix Goolden Hall. With music from St. Andrew’s elementary family choir, Open Door choir@Our Place and the Victoria Good News Choir. Tickets Adult $15, Child $5 available at Our Place Society, 919 Pandora or Christian Book and Music Store, 3082 Blanshard Avenue. All proceeds benefit Our Place Society.
Sing-along for free
Join a carol sing-along at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, corner of Broughton and Douglas Streets Dec. 15. Doors open 11:30 a.m. program 12 to 1 p.m. Soloist, violin performance, refreshments — all for free. For information call 250-384-5734.
Enjoy some cheese this holiday
It’s time to shake some snow globes and watch the frosty skivvies fall. The Cheesecake Burlesque Revue is unwrapping their gorgeous gifts just for you on Friday, Dec. 16 at The Metro Theatre for their second annual Naughty but Nice Peepshow!
Doors open at 8 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m. Tickets $22 adv $25 door available at Lyle’s Place, Garden of Eden or www.cheesecakeburlesque.com.
Funny puppets celebrate the season
A Mistletoe Wish is a Christmas romantic comedy of errors — plus puppets and audience sing-along. Join Martina Haakenstad, Cam Culham, Carla Bernachi and Bill Nance in singing the crooner classics like I’ll be home for Christmas, Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire, White Christmas and more. Dec. 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. Merlin’s Sun Theatre. 1983 Fairfield Rd. Tickets $15 at door and at Ivy’s book store on Oak Bay Ave. Refreshments served. For information call 250-598-7488 or email timgosley@telus.net.
Sing and laugh with Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a traditional pantomime designed to be enjoyed by the whole family. Written especially for Peninsula Players, it is based on the rivalry between the legendary folk hero and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin Hood will be a fun-filled show and is not recommended for someone with no sense of humour. For everyone else, a pantomime should be an essential part of your Christmas celebrations. Berwick Theatre, Royal Oak December 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets on sale at Dig This Broadmead Village and the Berwick Royal Oak 4680 Elk Lake Drive, Victoria. For more information go to www.peninsulaplayers.bc.ca.
A Dickens Christmas classic
Ebenezer Scrooge comes to Market Square this December for two free performances of a Christmas classic. London-trained Jason Stevens presents Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Dec. 17 at noon and 2 p.m. in the square, 560 Johnson St. Each show lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
Island songstress returns with Tidings
Experience the warm cheer of the season when Tidings returns to Fairfield United Church, featuring the voices and music of Nanaimo-based troubadour Allison Crowe and special guests Hayley Walker and Billie Woods.
The concert, a spirited holiday tradition in Victoria in support of Artemis Place and HepC B.C., is set for 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at 1303 Fairfield Rd.
Tickets are $20 or $15 for seniors and students, available at Lyle’s Place, 770 Yates St., Larsen Music, 1833 Cook St. and Ivy’s Bookshop, 2188 Oak Bay Ave. or at www.allisoncrowe.com.
The Earth Shall Ring! A Pinnacle Brass Christmas
On Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., the Church of St. John the Divine will ring with the sound of the Pinnacle Brass, Victoria’s premier professional brass quintet. The concert features Christmas carols both popular and less familiar, with a special guest appearance by local tenor Ken Lavigne, as well as an audience sing-along.
Formed in 2009, the Pinnacle Brass Quintet is comprised of John Ellis, Matt McCrady, Mike Oswald, Scott MacInnes and Eugene Dowling, all of whom are musicians from Vancouver Island’s leading musical institutions including The Victoria Symphony, the Vancouver Island Symphony, the Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific, and the University of Victoria School of Music.
The Earth Shall Ring! is their debut album, and it features, “the Christmas music that Christmas forgot,” explained trumpeter John Ellis. “We decided that we wanted to produce a recording that refreshed some older tunes that may have been forgotten, but with a current sound.”
Join the Pinnacle Brass Quintet on Dec. 19 for this festive holiday event. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $5 for students and youth and can be purchased at Ivy’s Bookstore or at St. John the Divine.
